Low-cost airline NewLeaf to reveal flight plans in Winnipeg

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This article was published 04/01/2016 (3658 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada’s ultra-low-cost airline is preparing to unveil its plans for taking on Air Canada and WestJet.

NewLeaf Travel has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday morning at the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport at 10 a.m.

The soon-to-be Winnipeg-based carrier plans to announce its route map, pricing and booking details.

In September, the airline said it had hired two pilots and 24 flight attendants.

When NewLeaf announced its entry into the market in June, it said its long-term goal was to hire 750 people, including pilots, flight attendants, executives as well as people in finance, marketing, information technology, sales and distributions and maintenance.

In summer 2015, NewLeaf also said it partnered with Flair Airlines, a charter company based in Kelowna with a quintet of 737-400 aircraft, to fly its schedule.

At the time, destinations such as California, Arizona, Nevada and Florida were winter destinations on the radar of CEO Jim Young, but he didn’t want to give any specifics at the time.

The goal of carriers in the ultra-low-cost space is to eliminate or reduce as many expenses as possible. That means no meals, complimentary snacks or entertainment and likely walking or busing out to the plane on the tarmac.

NewLeaf said in 2015 it was preparing to renovate the former rental car facility at the Richardson International Airport and will use 7,000 square feet of space.